When selling your home, you want to make sure as many potential buyers as possible are aware of your property. The best way to ensure maximum exposure is through the services of a REALTOR® and the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®).
REALTORS® are experts, trained and licensed in the field of real estate, who service the needs of the public in the buying and selling of homes. All are members of local real estate boards, such as WinnipegREALTORS® (where they exist in the province) and the Manitoba Real Estate Association. Most have access to the MLS®, which is an extensive network of listings.
What is MLS®?
The MLS® is a central registry of properties used by REALTORS® to match buyers with homes on the market. MLS® is described as a “co-operative marketing system” to ensure maximum exposure of properties for sale.
The MLS® is very effective. Last year, sales across Canada from MLS® listing totaled an amazing $58 billion.
In addition to being distributed in printed catalogues and available to members via computer links, MLS® properties are also advertised on the Internet through the website REALTOR.ca and locally at winnipegrealestatenews.com where listings are uploaded to the site within minutes.
Advantages for the consumer:
The major benefit of MLS® to consumers is that it allows the REALTOR® to use his or her skills to full advantage. REALTORS® are experts at determining what it is a potential buyer wants in a home. And a large part of the REALTOR®’s job lies in finding properties that suit these criteria.
With MLS®, a REALTOR® can search the database for homes that suit budgets, location preferences and family requirements, and quickly put together a short list of suitable homes. Many consumers will find themselves first viewing MLS® material at their REALTOR®’s office to preview potential properties and narrow the list further. When it comes time to view in earnest, they know exactly what homes they want to see, what their options are and what types of properties the market has to offer.
Through the MLS®, REALTORS® can view details of hundreds of homes. This gives the home buyer an extraordinary amount of choice and flexibility. The search for homes doesn’t have to involve driving around neighbourhoods looking for “for sale” signs. With the MLS®, an entire spectrum of available properties is at your REALTOR®'s fingertips. Even if you are moving across country, the MLS® can be used to scout homes in advance.
The bottom line is that what’s good for the buyer is good for the seller. This is because the main obstacle for any seller is to find qualified, motivated buyers. The only way to overcome this is to match your home to the requirements of as many potential buyers as possible.
Using the MLS® cuts through the complexities, exposes your property to those most likely to purchase it, and makes sure you won’t waste time showing your home to those who aren't truly interested.
So when you have made the decision to sell, make sure you ask your REALTOR® about an MLS® listing. It could be that your REALTOR® will already know of a number of potential buyers, but, in most cases, an MLS® listing will open up a broader range of interested parties.
MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and REALTOR® are registered trademarks of the Canadian Real Estate Association.